S.F. Sorrow, the first real concept album was recorded over the course of a year between 1967 and 1968 at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London and produced by Norman Smith. Released by Columbia in late 1968, this gem of 1960s British psychedelia recorded by the Pretty Things, hit the market almost six months before The Who’s rock opera Tommy. The band consisted of singer Phil May, who also designed the cover, Wally Allen (bass, guitar, wind instruments, piano), Dick Taylor (lead guitar, vocals), John Povey (organ, sitar, percussion, vocals) and drummer and singer John Charles Alder (aka Twink, who later recorded his solo album Think Pink).

The story of „Sebastian F. Sorrow“ from his birth to his disillusioned old age, written by Phil May, is accompanied by a blend of experimental rock, psychedelic pop, blues and folk with innovative arrangements. Although it was the band’s most imaginative, daring and elaborate album, it was a catastrophic flop with the public. This was compounded by the album’s rather dark and disillusioning content as well as a lack of support from the record company. Fate dealt the band another blow, because the same week saw the release of Beggars Banquet by the Rolling Stones and The White Album by the Beatles, which attracted all the attention and support. Nevertheless, it is now regarded as a true and timeless masterpiece that is highly sought after by collectors worldwide.